In September 2011, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a warning to local law enforcement agencies throughout Arizona, informing them that they were being targeted by the powerful and violent Mexican drug cartels.

The DOJs 2011 Drug Market Analysis for Arizona stated the cartels "have begun to threaten local police officers to deter their enforcement activities. Violent criminal groups often referred to as border bandits, rip crews, or bajadores, operate along trafficking corridors in remote locations, preying upon law enforcement officers and smugglers who transit their territories."

The report also detailed the expanded use by the cartels of street gangs in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Local gangs such as Brown Pride distribute methamphetamine, marijuana and heroin at the street level in Tucson, while the New Mexican Mafia controls such sales in Phoenix.

The increased profits to such gangs are also resulting in larger gang participation which has resulted in more criminal activity overall.

The report states: "Drug-related incidents, such as robberies and home invasions constitute much of the violent and property crime committed in Phoenix and Tucson."

Of course, Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever was killed on Tuesday evening, in a single vehicle crash while on his way to join his sons on a hunting trip near White Horse Lake in Coconino County.

According to a Coconino County Sheriff's Office press release, an unidentified driver was actually following Sheriff Dever on a desolate stretch of Forest Service Road 109, but lost sight of his 4-wheel-drive 2008 Chevrolet pickup for a brief period.

BTW. Our log trucks have had several near misses on these roads with these people coming up from the valley camping and such-no matter we got heavy trucking signs all over the GD place. They drive like they are on the freeways on these roads, cutting corners short and ending up on the wrong side of the road on blind corners. The place has lots of Deer and Elk and even cattle running around on these roads. Yet they drive like they are experts on these cinder roads. They get loose and away they go into the ditch.

I appreciate the reply posts from folks who know the scene and can explain the circumstances of the crash. While I know we all mourn Sheriff Dever’s death and many would love to believe that outlaw Mexicans were the assassins, I counsel a cool head and intelligent thought in these matters. Sometimes, FR begins to read like a Democrat whirlagig site. We have to be, we are, more intelligent than they are.

8
posted on 09/24/2012 12:46:19 PM PDT
by righttackle44
(I may not be much, but I raised a United States Marine.)

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